Slash Recorded Elton John’s ‘Rocket Man’ for Stuntman’s Epic Jump

When stuntman Eddie Braun attempts to leap the Snake River in the Pacific Northwest come September, he’ll have a special theme song to help him fly across the water using a 10,000 horsepower rocket. Sir Elton John gave Slash permission to record his own version of the 1972 hit “Rocket Man” to serve as a backdrop to Braun’s Evel Knievel-style jump.

Slash recorded the song with his band Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators at Hollywood’s Sunset Sound studio (via NME). Fans will be able to download the song when they contribute to Braun’s Kickstarter, which also gives them access to a live stream of the jump on September 17th.

Braun explained how Slash ended up recording “Rocket Man.” He said, “I approached the rock icon Slash, who I knew to be an Evel Knievel fan, and asked if he would be interested in being involved with my rocket project.” But more than get involved with his own music, Slash offered to double down and record a thematically apt theme song. “Slash got permission from Sir Elton John to re-record his 1972 hit song ‘Rocket Man’ specifically for our project.”

Braun added, “I’m so honored to have been given the most epic theme song, by the most epic guitarist of all time!” Slash performing “Rocket Man” as a stuntman leaps a river using a super rocket? Epic doesn’t even begin to describe it.